Cap assembly



R. L. HATCHER CAP ASSEMBLY May 23, 1961 Filed June 12, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBE/P7 L. HATCHER ATTORNEYS May 23, 1961 R. L.HATCHER CAP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jim 12. 1958 mm N IL m w R AT TO/PNE VS United States Fatent (3 CAP ASSEMBLY Robert L. Hatcher,Oakland, Calif., assignor to Noll Manufacturing Company, a corporationFiled June 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,653

8 Claims. (CI. 98-46) My invention relates to means useful in connectionwith building roofs through which vent pipes project. The device is forsealing the joint between the roof and the vent pipe and for providing asuitable terminus for the vent pipe in order to protect the buildingagainst the incursion of the elements as well as to provide a suitablevent outlet. This is accomplished for difierent size vent pipes and forroofs of different pitch.

A device of this general character is shown in my copending applicationentitled Roof Ventilator, Serial Number 106,928; filed September 20,1956, now Patent 2,909,113, issued October 20, 1959, and assigned to theassignee of the present application.

An object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly aifordingimproved and thorough protection against the elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly ofadjustable nature for use with roofs of various pitches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly useful withvarious pipes of varying diameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly that iseasy, simple and economical to manufacture and to use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cap assemblywhich can readily be fabricated and assembled from simple components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly generallyimproved over those heretofore known.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiments of the invention described in the accompanying descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of an anchor plate and cowl portion of my capassembly.

Figure 2 is a view comparable to Figure 1 but showing the unit installedon a roof and around a vent pipe.

Figure 3 is for the most part a cross section on a vertical axial planeshowing a cap assembly mounted on a roof and around a vent pipe in atypical installation.

Figure 4 is a plan of the cap assembly, the anchor plate and cowl beingomitted.

Figure 5 is a cross section the plane of which is indicated by the line5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross section in detail to an enlarged scale the plane ofsection being indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a portion of a deflecting plate that ispart of the cap assembly.

The cap assembly of my invention is especially designed for use with avent pipe projecting through a slanting roof and is adaptable for use ina number of different environments. As an example, it has beencommercially successful in the form illustrated herein. In this example,the installation is made in connection with a circular cylindrical ventpipe 6 having a nominal outer diameter D (Figure 2). This diameter isheld with some 6 ice exactness in some kinds of vent pipes, but variesin others. For example, metal vent pipes are usually fairly close to anominal, finished diameter, although they vary somewhat. Vent pipes ofasbestos composition although perhaps of the same nominal diameter varycon siderably in actual diameter. Furthermore, vent pipes are not alwaysprecisely circular in cross section, but rather are somewhat variable inshape as well as size. The illustrative vent pipe 6 projects through andextends above a roof 7 shown diagrammatically and usually covered withsome sort of superficial roofing material, not shown.

Pursuant to this invention there is provided a generally rectangular,planar anchor plate 11 preferably fabricated of sheet metal and designedto lie flat on the top of and against the roof 7. The anchor plate 11has a central opening around the edge of which is fastened afrusto-conical cowl 12. This is also fabricated of relatively light,somewhat flexible and deformable sheet metal. The cowl 12 forms aleakproof joint with the anchor plate 11. Especially in accordance withthis invention, the cowl-12 terminates at its upper edge in a deformablemargin 13. This can be provided in a number of different Ways, butpreferably and in the present instance is for-med by a plurality ofslits 14 substantially along the elements of the cowl cone. The slitsextend downwardly from the upper margin of the cowl. As initially formedand before deformation or use, the inner diameter I of the upper margin13' of the cowl is. somewhat less than the outer diameter D of the ventpipe.

In use, the anchor plate and cowl assembly are forced downwardly overthe upper end 16 of the vent pipe. This operation is effective to bendand spread the outer portions of the individual fingers 17 forming thedeformable margin and to deflect them so that they lie very closelyagainst the body of the vent pipe no matter what actual diameter or whatthe actual contour of the pipe may be.

The anchor plate and the deformed cowl margin in and of themselves forma very nearly weather tight protection between the roof 7 and the upperportion of the vent pipe. Thus, the deformable cowl margin constitutes asort of primary Weather seal. Furthermore, this primary seal iseffective because the cowl margin is individually formed as it isinstalled in accordance with the particular slope of the individualinstallation and in accordance with the particular size and positioningand shape of the individual vent pipe. A quite flexible, universallyapplicable mechanism is thus provided.

Even though the vent pipe 6 is of metal, a relatively good conductor ofheat, the temperature of the roof pipe is not transmitted well to thecowl or the anchor plate because the fingers 17 themselves only havelight frictional contact with the pipe and, because of the slits 14,serve as good radiators. The temperature of the cowl itself never risesto an unacceptable value.

Pursuant to the invention, further protection against the elements andfurther scaling is provided. The cowl on its opposite sides is providedwith pairs of projecting button rivets 21 and 22 on which rests thelower edge 23 of a connecting pipe 24. This surrounds and protects thevent pipe. Since the cowl is somewhat flexible,

as is the connecting pipe 24, the connecting pipe can be disposed withits axis exactly coincident with the axis 26 of the vent pipe. Thisalways occurs despite the different angularity of different roofs, forthe flexibility of the overlapped parts allows variation in theirtheoretical cross sectional geometry so that they deflect each otherinto a common cross section and a substantially tight joint is thusmade.

The vent pipe is secured in its appropriate position by deformablestraps 27 and 28 which pass through loops 1' O 3 29 and 31 on theconnecting pipe and are bent over and serve as holding means. The lowerend of the connecting pipe 24 overlies and surrounds the deformablemargin 13 and in any installed position extends below any of the slits14 so that there is a tight closure against entry of the elements,although there can be small internal flow through the slits 14.

I Partly to bear the weight of the connecting pipe 24 and partly toinsure that the vent pipe 6 does not extend to an inordinate degree, thetop of the connecting pipe is provided with a diametrical stop strap 33having its ends bend over and secured by rivets 34 to the connectingpipe. In this way the flue pipe or vent pipe cannot project inordinatelyand some of the weight of the connecting pipe is borne by the stop strapas well as on the rivets 21 and 22. Additional stability in thepositioning and mounting of the connecting pipe is thus afforded.

As a further protection against the elements, the upper portion of theconnecting pipe is provided with brackets 36 in any convenient number;for example, three. These are secured by rivets 37 to the upper portionof the connecting pipe and extend thereabove a selected distance, beingsuitably bent outwardly as at B8, finally terminating in tabs 39. Adeflector or baflle 41 preferably comprised of a circular band of sheetmetal appropriately ridged for stifiness is secured by rivets 42 to thebrackets 36. The deflector is held in a position spaced away from theupper end of the connecting tube, depending slightly below the upper endthereof, and extending thereabove in order to direct gas issuing fromthe vent tube and to deflect ambient air currents appropriately.

Also supported on the brackets 36 within the baflle 41 is a deflectingplate 44. This is fabricated of sheet material appropriately shaped andembossed and is of a diameter considerably greater than that of theconnecting pipe 24 and even greater than the diameter of the deformablemargin 13. The deflecting plate 44 overlies and so acts as a verticalprotection against rain falling directly downwardly. This is kept fromentering the connecting tube or the flue pipe.

In order readily to secure the deflecting plate in position, around itsmargin 46 it is provided with a number; for example, three, of partiallysevered and partially indented tabs 47 at appropriate locations. Thesetabs are struck downwardly so that they are somewhat springy and can beforced under and interlocked with upstanding lugs 48 partially struckand displaced from the offset portion 38 of the brackets 36. With thisinterengagement, the deflecting plate 44 is easily snapped into positionon the supporting brackets and is firmly held against displacement inany direction.

By the provision of this mechanism there is afforded an assembly ofseparate portions which can easily be fabricated and shipped, yet whichcan at the site readily be installed at substantially any angle on avent pipe of nearly any commercial size and despite irregular pipecontour. The roof plate and cowl portion forms a suitable primaryclosure with the vent pipe yet the contact and arrangement is such thatno substantial transfer of heat takes place. The remaining part of thecap assembly serves as a secondary protection or shield against theelements and to deflect gas issuing from the vent pipe and to direct theadjacent air flow.

What is claimed is:

l. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting through a roofcomprising an anchor plate, a frustoconical cowl upstanding from saidanchor plate, means defining deformable fingers at their bottoms onlyjoined to the upper margin of said cowl in position to be bent upwardlyand outwardly by said vent pipe when said cowl is forced downwardlythereover, and a connecting tube substantially coaxial with andsurrounding said pipe and engaging said cowl in a location away fromsaid fingers. 2. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe of a selecteddiameter comprising a cowl of deformable material constituting a frustumof a cone, a first right section of said frustum at one end being afirst circle of less than said selected diameter, one portion of saidcowl having slits therein extending along elements of said cone to saidone end and to a second right section of said frustum that is a secondcircle of more than said selected diameter, means for supporting saidcowl on a roof, a tube of greater diameter than said second circle, andmeans for holding said tube in a position surrounding said slits andagainst said cowl.

3. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe comprising an anchor platehaving an opening therein through which said vent pipe is adapted topass, a frusto-conical cowl upstanding from said anchor plate, a tubeadapted to be disposed substantially coaxially with and surrounding saidvent pipe, means for holding said tube in abutment with said cowl, anddeformable fingers extending freely from said cowl into position forfrictional engagement with said vent pipe and within said tube.

4. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting upwardly through aroof comprising an anchor plate having an opening therein to pass saidvent pipe, a frustoconical cowl upstanding from said anchor plate in aposition to encompass said vent pipe, the bottom of said cowl joiningsaid anchor plate around the edge of said opening and the top of said'cowl terminating in an upwardly bendable margin originally smaller thansaid vent pipe but being expandable by the insertion of said vent pipetherethrough to engage said vent pipe frictionally, a connecting tubegreater in diameter than said vent pipe and adapted to surround saidvent pipe with the bottom of said tube resting upon said cowl in alocation lower than said bendable margin of said cowl, means forming astop on said tube spanning said tube above and resting on the top ofsaid vent pipe, a deflecting plate larger in diameter than said tube,and meansfor supporting said deflecting plate overlying and spaced abovethe upper end of said tube and overlying said bendable margin of saidcowl.

5. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting upwardly through aroof comprising an anchor plate having an opening therein to pass saidvent pipe, a frustoconical cowl upstanding from said anchor plate in aposition to encompass said vent pipe, the bottom of said cowl joiningsaid anchor plate around the edge of said opening and the top of saidcowl terminating in a margin having a plurality of slits extendingdownwardly from the upper edge thereof to form bendable fingers, saidupper edge originally defining an upper opening smaller than said ventpipe but said bendable fingers being deformable upwardly by theinsertion of 'said vent pipe through said upper opening to afford anupper opening substantially of the size of said vent pipe, a connectingtube larger in diameter than said vent pipe and adapted to surround saidvent pipe with the bottom of said vent pipe resting upon said cowl in alocation lower than said fingers, and means for holding said connectingtube in engagement with said cowl.

6. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting through a roofcomprising a planar anchor plate having a central hole, an upwardlydiminishing frusto-conical cowl upstanding from said anchor plate aroundthe edge of said hole, upwardly deformable fingers upstanding from theupper edge of said cowl and disposed to be deflected upwardly to rest infrictional engagement with said vent pipe when said vent pipe extendsthrough said anchor plate to a point above said cowl, a connecting tubedisposed to be substantially coaxial with and to surround said pipe andat the bottom to engage said cowl below said fingers, and means forholding said connecting tube and said cowl in engagement. 7

7. A cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting upwardly through aroof comprising supporting means adapted to abut said roof and encompasssaid vent pipe,

said means including a plurality of upwardly and inwardly extendingradially separate fingers of deformable material, said fingers whenundeformed being contiguous and defining at their lower ends a figure ofgreater diameter than that of said vent pipe and defining at their upperupper edges a figure of lesser diameter than that of said vent pipe, aconnecting tube adapted to encompass said vent pipe and to engage saidsupporting means outside of and below said fingers, and means forholding said connecting tube and said supporting means in engagement.

8. In a cap assembly for use with a vent pipe projecting through a roof,an anchor plate having an opening therein of greater diameter than saidpipe, and a frusto-conical cowl upstanding from said anchor plate aroundsaid opening and having a plurality of slits extending downwardly alongconical elements from the upper margin of said cowl and terminating in alower location to define 6 a plurality of deformable fingers engageablewith said vent pipe, the perimeter of said upper margin when saidfingers are undeformed being less than the perimeter of said pipe andthe perimeter of said fingers at said lower location being more than theperimeter of said pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS186,125 Graham Jan. 9, 1877 226,074 Jackson Mar. 30, 1880 302,373 AtkinJuly 22, 1884 957,980 Mikesell May 17, 1910 1,192,279 Dawson July 25,1916 1,20 ,687 Elkerton Oct. 24, 1916 2,614,867 Artis Oct. 21, 19522,890,642 Fernsten June 16, 1959

